Elevator control system



Jan. 6, 1959 w. H. BRUNS ELEVATOR CONTROL SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledOct. 28. 1957 W/L L [AM HENEYBPUNS l NVE N TOR BYfiwW ATTOR N EY W. H.BRUNS ELEVATOR CONTROL SYSTEM Jan. 6', 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct.28, 1957 m w T N I N m HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiHJTIIIkE T X n J N TVUAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIXEIIATIIII I 4 5UIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIQIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII== I e will}? 5 I r P LD I,w BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIWTIIET I I I I I Rk E 4 5 H B E ET I I I I l I.IIIIIIIE M I Z 3 VHAIIIIIIEIIIQIIIIIIIIIIRXI I I l I 1 M W L 4 W SIIIII I I I I I I l I l I I I ll l I I I I I I l la H ET RE 4 H I I I I I II I I I l l I I l I I I I =T== I J m w I l I I I I x I I I l I I I l Iga I I I I I I ET E 6 E 1. H MW 2 ZIIsIII I l I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I 7.. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I a. X J I, n I/ D I l I I I I I I I l I I I IIIJRTIIEIIIIIIIIS w I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ILH P 4 w lvw ia Z I I l I I l I I I I I I I I I B E n m IIIII II iflm a g 0 w 4 MIWT E E I z 4 D-IIII.IIIII.II.IIIIII.IIIIIIIIIIIWTxXTIIIW I l I l|||%I|ll| Unite States Patent ELEVATOR CGNTROL SYSTEM William HenryBruins, Lincolndale, N. Y., assignor to Otis Elevator Company, New York,N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application ()ctober 28, 1957, SerialNo. 692,684

20 Claims. (Cl. 187-29) The invention relates to the control ofelevators.

The time consumed by elevators in performing certain operations isbecoming an increasingly important factor. This is particularly true ofelevators in tall buildings which are being erected today. The elevatorinstallation must be adequate to populate and depopulate the buildingwithin a short time during the morning and evening rush hours and toserve the building without undue delays for the remainder of the day. Onthe other hand, the elevators cannot take up too great a proportion ofthe building space or the building will not be economically feasible.Thus any improvement that helps to speed up elevator service is highlydesirable. The present invention is directed to improvements of thischaracter.

One of the principal factors influencing the time consumed by theelevators is the operation of the elevator doors. When an elevator carmakes a stop at a floor, it is desirable that the elevator doors be sufiiciently opened by the time the car comes to a stop to enable passengertransfer to start immediately. In the past, it has been the practice tostart the door opening operation by the time the car reaches a zone inwhich the car leveling mechanism is effective, which zone extends acertain distance on each side of the fio-or. However, with improvementsin the operation of elevators to provide high speed of approach instopping and due to the limitations of door operators, the doors do notget sufficiently open, by the time the car is brought to a stop,

to enable the passenger transfer to take place at once. As a result,time is lost on each stop which, when the overall operation for a dayfor all elevators is considered, is a very considerable factor.

Another factor is the time lost in the final closing movement of thedors. To avoid slamming with its objectionable noise, jar to passengersand wear and tear on equipment, the doors are slowed down in closing asthey come within a certain distance of door closed position. Doorinterlock contacts are provided which are closed in the final doorclosing movement. It has been the practice in the past to prevent theestablishment of starting circuits until the interlock contacts areclosed. Due to the slowing down of the doors, a considerable amount oftime is consumed in effecting the final closing movement and thus aconsiderable amount of time is lost in getting the car started away fromthe fioor. This is especially true of non-attendant operated elevatorswhere, due to the lack of an attendant to act as a guard, the interlockcontacts are not closed until the doors reach substantially closedposition. There is the further factor that time is lost in effectingoperation of electromagnetic starting switches after the interlocksclose and in getting the electromechanical brake released after theswitches are operated. Where the overall operation for a day of allelevators is considered, here again the time lost is a considerablefactor.

One object of the invention is to insure, without sacrifice of safety,the opening of the elevator doors sufficiently for passenger transfer totake place by the time the car comes to a stop.

Another object of the invention is to minimize the time lost in the doorclosing operation by utilizing a portion of the final door closing timefor initiating the starting of the car away from the floor, againwithout sacrifice of safety.

In carrying out the invention as applied to the door opening operation,there is a transitory supply of current for causing operation of thedoor opening switch in advance of the leveling zone, in turn causingthefdoors to start to open at a slow speed. When the car reaches acertain distance from the fioor, preferably commensurate with theleveling zone, the speed of door opening is increased to normal value sothat the desired door opening is obtained by the time the car comes to astop. In the preferred embodiment, this transitory current supply isobtained from a charged condenser which supplies a current pulse to thecoil of the door open switch. This minimizes the amount of door openingoperation which can take place before the leveling zone is reachedsince, if the leveling zone is not reached before the condenser pulse isno longer able tohold in the door open switch, the advance door openingoperation ceases.

Thus too early door opening is obviated.

In carrying out the invention as applied to the door closing operation,as the doors reach a certain distance in advance of fully closedposition, a transitory supply of current to starting switching mechanismtakes place;

This enables the switching sequences to get under way to initiate carmovement during the final closing movement of the doors.

condenser which supplies a current pulse to the coil of a startingrelay. This minimizes the amount of car movement which can take placebefore the interlock contact closes, since if the interlock is notoperated before'the condenser pulse is no longer able to hold in thisrelay,

from the above and from the following description and appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a somewhat simplified view in front elevation of an elevatorcar, with the car door, associated hoistway door and door operatingmechanism, to which the invention may be applied;

Figure 2 is a representation in across the line form of simplifiedcircuits for controlling the doors and the elevator car, embodying theinvention; and

Figure 2s is a locating diagram, showing in spindle" form therelationship of the coils and contacts of the switches employed inFigure 2.

Elevator control systems are very complex and it is to be understoodthat certain amplifications and alterations may be in order in adaptingthe invention to com plete elevator systems.

Referring first to Figure l, the elevator car 11 is illustrated aspositioned at a landing 12. The car door 13 and hoistway door l4 forthat landing are illustrated in closed position. car door and hoistwaydoors may be operated in various ways, an arrangement has beenillustrated in which these doors are power opened and spring closed. Twospeed, side opening doors have been illustrated but it is also to beunderstood that the invention is applicable to other arrangements,especially center opening doors.

In the preferred embodiment, again the' transitory current supply isobtained from a charged Thus an undev While'it is to be understood thatthe- 'The car door and'the hoistway doors are operated by a door motorDM'mounted on the car framework 21. This motor operatesthroughireduction gearing arranged in casing 22 to drive anoperating cam24. This cam operates a lever 25 through the intermediary of a'roller 26.. Lever 25 is connected by chain 27 to a lever 30 for operating thecar door operating arm 32. A spring 37 biases the car door to'closedposition. A pair of door checks 42 and 43 are connected to arm 32 forcushioning the final opening and closing. movements of the car door.

Another chain 44 is illustrated as" connected to lever 25 from which itextends to a retiring cam 45. The cam is adapted when extended to engageroller 52 of bell crank lever 53 connected by tie rod 55 to a togglelever 57 for operating the hoistway door. A spring 65 acts through thetoggle lever to bias the door to closed position. A double acting doorcheck 71 is connected for operation by lever 57 to cushion the finalopening and closing movements of the hoistway door.

Limit switches are provided for controlling the operation of the dooroperating motor DM. For convenience it will be assumed that theseswitches are arranged in a casing 75 for operation as by cams rotated.by the motor. These switches are shown in the wiring diagram, Figure 2.Car door contacts and hoistway door interlock contacts are notillustrated in this figure but are included in Figure 2.

,To open the doors, motor DM is energized for rotation in a direction toeffect clockwise movement of cam 24. This pushes lever 25 clockwisewhich acts through chain 27 to pull lever 30 clockwise. Thus car dooroperating arm 32 is swung clockwise and acts through its linkconnections to the car door sections to open the car door. Lever 25 alsoacts through chain 44 to lift retiring cam 45. Bell crank lever 53 isthus swung in a direction to push upwardly on tie rod 55. Thus togglelever .57 is operated to break the toggle and to pull the hoistwaydoorto open position. As the doors reach openposition,.the door open limitswitch in casing 75 causes deenergization'of motor DM to bring it to astop. The contour of cam 24 is such as to give the desired acceleration,speed, and retardation during openingmovement of the doors. The finalopening movementof the doors is cushioned by their checks.

During opening movement of the doors, tension is placed in springs 37and 65 which act to close the doors upon motor DM being energized forreverse rotative movement. Spring 37 acts directly on lever 32 to closethe'car door as reverse movement of motor DM takes place. Retiring cam45 drops back as this reverse movement takes place which enables spring65 to straighten out the toggle and thus close the hoistway door. Thuswhile. the doors are spring closed, their closing movement cannot takeplace any faster than permitted by motor DM.. The final closing movementof the doors is cushionedby their checks and as the doors reachclosedposition, the door close limit switch opens to bring motor DM toastop.

Referring now to Figure 2, the electromagnetic switches employed in thecircuits which are shown are designated asfollows:

DDown direction switch DCDoor close switch DE-Door speed switch DGDirection holding switch DO-Door open switch DPXAuxiliary doorprotectiverelay DXAuxiliary down direction switch 1E-First speed switch2ESecond speed switch. GS-Auxiliary door relay H-Field and brake switchHSL-Fast'speed leveling switch 4 HX-Auxiliary brake and field switch1SIncident to start relay LB-Motion detecting switch PPotential switchSEStop indication relay UUp direction switch UXUp auxiliary directionswitch XCS-Nudging relay The electromagnetic switches are illustrated indeenergized condition. B designates the coil of the electromechanicalbrake.

Certain of the switches embodied in the circuits are mechanicallyactuated by car movement, as by a selector machine driven by the car asis well known in the art. This is the case of selector switch SLS6 whichis one of a sequence of selector switches actuated at dilferentdistances from each floor at which a stop is made. The same is true of.the door zone switches DZ which are closed in the leveling zones. LSW isthe leveling switch which may also be provided on the selector machine.For convenience, switch LSW is illustrated as a bridging contact 70representative of a plurality of contacting cams, one for each floor,for engaging contacts 71a, 72, 73M and 74u'for up leveling and contacts71d, 72d, 73d and 74d for down leveling. A selector machine such asillustrated in the patent to Dunn et a1. Number 2,074,578 may beutilized with the leveling mechanism arranged as shown in the patent toLarson Number 2,611,451. LS1 and LS2 are limit switches in the hoistway.

The door operated limitswitches in casing 75 are designated DCLl, DCL2,DOL and DEL. Switch DCLl is opened as the doorsreach closed position.Switch DCLZ is opened in advance, say four inches, of closed position.Switch DOL opens as the doors reach closed position. Switch DEL is openwithin say one-half inch of door closed and door open positions. CDS arethe car door contacts while HDS are the hoistway door interlockcontacts.

The door operating motor is illustrated as a direct current motor, itsarmature being designated DMA and its field winding DMF. DOR and DCR areresistors for controlling the amount of current supplied to the doormotor armature. The elevator hoisting motor is also a direct currentmotor, its armature designated MA and its field winding MF. HS is thehoisting sheave driven by the hoisting motor while CA and CO designatethe car and counterweight respectively raised and lowered by thehoistingsheave. The hoisting motor armature is supplied with current ata variable voltage from the armature GA of a direct current generator.The separately excited field winding of the generator is designated GF.GFR is a resistor for controlling the strength of the generator field.C1 and C2 are the pulsing condensers, C1 for the advance door openingand C2 for the advance starting. CR1, CR2, CDRl and CDRZ are resistorsfor controlling the charging and discharging of these condensers.Blocking rectifiers are designated RE.

It is assumed that thecar is parked at a floor with the doors open. As aconsequence, contacts CDS, one pair of interlock contacts HDS, and doorlimit switches DOL, DEL and DCL2 are open. It will also be assumed thatthe car is set for upward travel, this being indicated by the engagementof contacts DGE. of switch DG, the coil forwhich is not shown. The coilof switch IS also is not shown. It will be understood that this coil isenergized through any suitable circuit arrangement to cause-theoperation of the switch incident to operations involved in initiatingthe starting of the car. Upon operation, switch IS engages contacts 181,completing'a circuit for thecoilof door close switch DC. SwitchDCoperates to engage contacts DC2 and DC3 to complete a circuit forarmature DMA of the door operating motor for a direction of rotationtoeffect the closure of the doors. As the doors start to close, limitswitch DOL closes to prepare for a subsequent reopening operation. Asthe doors move out of open position, switch DEL closes, completing acircuit through contacts HXZ for the coil of door speed switch DE.Switch DE operates to engage contacts DE3, short circuiting a portion ofresistor DCR to increase the current supplied to the door motor armaturefor purposes of acceleration. It also engages contacts DB1 to establisha holding circuit.

As the doors near closed position, switch DCL2 closes, completing acircuit through contacts 182 for the coil of auxiliary door 'relay GS.Relay GS operates to engage contacts GS1, connecting .condenser C2 byway of contacts XCSl, DPXl and LBI, rectifier RE2, contacts DGl andswitch LS1 across the coils of auxiliary direction switch UX andauxiliary brake and field switch HX. As will be explained later, due tothe previous operation of the car, condenser C2 is in a charged stateand thus causes a pulse of current to be supplied to the coils of theseswitches, causing their temporary operation. Switch HX engages contactsHX3 to complete a circuit for the coil of switch HSL. Switch HSL engagescontacts HSLZ to short circuit a portion of resistor GFR. Switch UXengages contacts UX2 to complete the circuit for the coils of updirection switch U and field and brake switch H. Switches U and H engagecontacts U2, U3 and H2 to complete a circuit for generator field windingGF, causing current to be supplied to the elevator hoisting motor. Alsoswitch H engages contacts H1 to cause current to be supplied to brakerelease coil B, releasing the brake. As a result upward movement of theelevator car is initiated.

Along with the engagement of contacts 181 to cause the closing of thedoors and the closing of contacts by the car door as it reaches closedposition, circuits are set up to cause operation of advancer mechanismon the selector machine, resulting in the closing of switch SLS6. Thusthe running circuit through car door contacts CDS, hoistway doorinterlock contacts HDS and switch SLS6 is completed for the coils ofrelays UX and HX, maintaining these relays operated. The coils ofswitches 1E and 2E are not illustrated. These switches are controlled inany suitable manner to cause the engagement of contacts IE2 and 2E3 toshort circuit steps of resistor GFR in sequence to increase theexcitation of the generator field winding. Further accelerating stepsare provided as indicated by contacts X to bring the elevator hoistingmotor to full speed.

As the doors reach closed position in the above sequence, door closelimit switch DCLl opens to break the circuit for the coil of switch DC.Switch DC drops out to separate contacts DCZ and DC3 to disconnectarmature DMA from the supply lines. Also, it separates contacts DC1 tobreak the holding circuit for the coil of switch DE. After the runningcircuits are established the contacts of the leveling mechanism areretracted so as not to engage the bridging contacts (cams) 7%, thisbeing indicated for convenience by the separation of contacts 1E1 inthis circuit to feed contacts 7114 and 71d. Also, after the runningcircuits are established switch IS drops out to separate contacts 1S2,disconnecting the coil of switch GS from the supply lines. Switch GSdrops out to separate contacts G81 and to engage contacts 682 with theresult that a charging circuit is established for condenser C2 throughcontacts CDS, HDS and G82, rectifier RE3 and resistor CR2. Also, duringthe acceleration of the car, switch 2E operates to separate contacts 2E2and engage co-ntacts 2E1. Thus a charging circuit is also establishedfor condenser C1 through contacts IE1 and resistor CR1.

. Assume now that a call has been picked up and that slowdown has beeninitiated in the sequence of bringing the car to a stop at the floor forwhich the call is registered. This involves the separation of contacts Xand dropping out of switches 2E and IE to separate contacts aratescontacts 2E1 and engages contacts 2E2.

2E3 and IE2, in sequence as the car approaches the floor,

field winding GF to slow down the car. This operation is controlled bythe selector machine to provide distance conx trol of the slowdown.Switch 2E is dropped out considerably in advance of the arrival of theelevator car in the leveling zone. Upon dropping out, switch 2E alsosep- Thus condenser Cl is disconnected from the supply lines andconnected through contacts 2E2 and HSLl and rectifier REF. across thecoil of door open switch DO. The condenser supplies a pulse of currentto the door open switch coil, causing temporary operation of thisswitch. Upon operation, switch DO separates interlock contacts D01 incircuit with the coil of switch DC and engages contacts D02 and D03,completing a circuit for armature DMA of the door operating motor for adirection of rotation to effect opening of the doors. Inasmuch ascontacts DC1 and HX2 are now separated, switch DE is deenergized. Thuscontacts DB2 are separated so that resistance DOR is in circuit with thedoor motor armature, causing this initial door opening operation to takeplace at slow speed.

As the car continues toward the floor, the leveling contacts arereleased for cooperation with the bridging contact 70 (cam for thatfloor), represented by the engagement of contacts 1E1. Movement ofcontact 70 as the car continues its movement results in its engagingcontacts 74a, 73u, 72M and 71a in the order named. As the last mentionedcontact, which is the up feed contact, is engaged, the car is consideredas having entered the leveling zone. Switch SLS6 is set to open justafter the car enters the leveling zone. Due to the motion of theswitches and the door operating mechanism, this normally will occurbefore the separation of the door interlock contacts. This causes thedisconnection of the coils of switches UX and HX from the supply lines.As a result these switches drop out to separate contacts UX2 and HX3.This does not cause the dropping out of switches U and H at this time asthe circuit for these coils is maintained by the leveling switch. Alsothe leveling switch maintains switch HSL operated after the separationof contacts HX3. However, the engagement of contacts HXl connects thecoil of switch D0 to the supply lines to maintain this switch operated,the circuit being through limit switch DOL and contacts SE1 of the stopindicating relay which are now engaged. The coil of switch SE is notshown but it is to be understood that this switch is controlled so as todrop out each time a stop is being made. The circuit for the coil ofswitch DO also extends through the door Zone switches DZ. The door zoneswitches may be operated by the leveling cams as set forth in theaforementioned Larson patent. The time of operation of the door zoneswitches with reference to the selector switch SLS6 depends upon thecharacteristics of the particular installation. Also the closing of doorlimit switch DEL as the doors leave closed position completes a circuitthrough contacts HXZ for the coil of switch DE. Switch DE. operates toengage contacts DEZ, short circuiting a portion of resistor DOR toincrease the opening speed of the doors. As the doors reach openposition, limit switches DEL and DOL open to drop out switches DE andDO. Switch DE separates contacts DE2 to insert resistance DOR in circuitwith armature DMA of the door operating motor and switch DO operatescontacts D62 and D03 to disconnect the armature from the supply lines.This brings the doors to a stop in open position.

As the doors are being opened, the leveling mechanism acts to bring thecar to a stop at the landing level. In the approach of the car to thelanding in the leveling zone, contact 70 moves off contact 7411,breaking the circuit for the coil of switch HSL. This switch drops out,separating contacts HSLZ to insert a further portion of resistance GFRin circuit with the generator field winding, further slowing down thecar. Also, contacts HSLI separate to disconnect the coil of switch DOfrom 7 acrosscondenser C1, the coil being maintainedlenergized by wayiofcontacts HXl. As the car reaches thelanding', contact 70 runs offcontact 72w, breaking the circuit for the coils of switches U and H.These switches drop out to disconnect generator field winding GF andbrake release coil B from the supply lines, causing the car to bebrought to a stop at the landing level.

It is believed that the operation of the system in case of down cartravel will be understood from the above without detailed description.

In the advance initiation of the door opening operation, should the carnot reach the leveling zone to cause the opening of switch SLS6 and thusthe drop-out of switch HX within a certain time after the start of theinitiation, condenser C1 discharges to a point where it is no longercapable of holding switch D in operated condition. As a result, switchDO drops out to stop the advance door opening operation. Thus isobviated the opening of the doors too soon in the sequenze of operationsinvolved in bringing the car to a stop at a landing level. In addition,the dropping out of switch HSL as contact 79 moves ofi contact 7%,separates contacts HSLI to disconnect condenser C1 from across the coilof switch DO, insuring the dropping out of this switch by the opening oflimit switch DOL as the doors reach open position. The control of theduration of the pulse of current supplied by condenser C1 to the coilofswitch D0 is through bleeder resistance ODRl. In case of an emergencystop, contacts PI of the potential switch P (the coil of which is notshown) engage to short circuit a portion of resistance CDRI. This causesa quick discharge of condenser C1 to obviate an advance door openingoperation in case of an emergency stop. It may be desirable for certaininstallations to connect a condenser C4 across switch SLS6 and the coilsof switches UX (or DX) and HX to prevent the dropout of these switchesshould door contacts CD5 or HDS open before switch SLS6 opens.

In the advance initiation of the starting operation, should switch SLStanot close to complete the running circuit for the coils of switches UX(or DX) and HX within a certain time after the start of the initiation,condenser C2 is disconnected from across the coil of switches UX (or DX)and HX. This is effected by the utilization of the leveling switch as amotion detector. Assume that, in an advance starting operation in the updirection, there is before the closing of switch SLSd surficient carmovement (say one-half inch) to cause contact 7d to engage contact 72d.This completes a circuit through contacts G54 and rectifier REd for thecoil of motion detector switch L3. This switch operates to separatecontacts LBl, disconnecting condenser C2 from the coils of switches UXand HX. As a result these switches drop out to discontinue the advancestarting operation. In so doing, the separation of contacts UXZ to dropout switch U results in the engagement of interlock contacts U1 toenable a circuit to be completed by the levelin'g switch by way ofcontact 72d for the coils of switches D and H to return the car to thefloor level. This obviates movement of the car due to advance initiationof the starting to more than say one-half inch from the floor. Switch UX(or DX), upon operation, also engages contacts UXl (or DXI) to connectresistance CDRZ across condenser C2 to bleed the condenser. This insuresthat the condenser will not be able to hold in these switches for aduration to cause more than say one inch of car movement away from thefloor, should for some reason switch LB fail to function. Here again asswitch UX (or DX) drops out, the leveling mechanism acts to return thecar to the floor. When switch LB operates, it also engages contacts LE2to short circuit a portion of bleeder resistance CDRZ to elfect thequick discharge of the condenser.

Should a person catch the door after the closing of switch DCL2 andcause operation of detector mechanism, such for example as; disclosed inthe patent'to Brains 1 et al., No. 2,634,828, contacts DPXL separate to'disconect condenser C2 from the coils of switches X DX) and HX, thuspreventing or stopping the advance starting operation. Similarly shouldthe doors fail to reach closed position within a certain time say afterthe operation of switch 15, relay XCS drops out to separate contactsXCSl, preventing advance start-initiation. When switch ES operates, itseparates contacts 183, disconnecting the coil of relay XCS from thesupply lines. Relay XCS is delayed in dropping out by the discharge ofcondenser C3. This relay corresponds to switch DT of the aforesaid Brunset al. patent and is similarly con trolled to provide a nudgingoperation of the doors as explained in that patent.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustra tive and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a plurality oflandings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; first circuit controlling meansoperable by said closure means as it reaches closed position; additionalcircuit controlling means operable by said closure means as it reaches apoint a certain distance in advance of closed position; and transitorymeans operable for a predetermined transitory period in response tooperation of said additional circuit controlling means for initiatingthe starting movement of the car, said first circuit controlling meansacting, provided it is operated before the transitory period expires, tocontinue car movement.

2. An elevator system comprising, a first movable body in said system; asecond movable body in said system; circuit controlling means operableby said first movable body as it reaches a certain point in itsmovement; control means subject to the operation of said circuit controlling means for controlling operation of said second movable body;and additional circuit controlling means operable by said first movablebody as it reaches another certain point in movement ahead of the firstmentioned point for causing transitory operation of said control eans,said first named circuit controlling means upon operation prior to theend'of said transitory operation acting to maintain said control meansoperated.

3. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a plurality oflandings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; circuit controlling meansoperable by said closure means as it reaches closed position; anelectromagnetic switch operable to cause the starting of the car, thecircuit for the coil of said switch being subject to the closing of saidcircuit controlling means; and means responsive to movement of saidclosure means in closing to within a certain distance of closed positionfor causing the transitory supply of current to said coil and thuscausing the operation of said switch to initiate the starting of the carprior to the closing of said circuit controlling means.

4. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a plurality oflandings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; circuit controlling meansoperable by said closure means at it reaches closed position; a sourceof current; an electromagnetic switch operable to cause the starting ofthe car; a circuit subject to the operation of said circuit controllingmeans for connecting thecoil of said switch to said'source; secondcircuit-controlling means operable by said closure means as it arriveswithin a certain distance of closed positiom'and meansiresp'om -9 siveto said operation of said second circuit controlling means for causingwithout bypassing the first named circuit controlling means thetransitory supply of current to said coil to initiate the starting ofthe car prior to the closure means reaching closed position.

5. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a plurality oflandings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; circuit controlling meansoperable by said closure means as it reaches closed position; anelectromagnetic switch operable to cause the starting of the car, thecircuit for the coil of said switch being subject to the closing of saidcircuit controlling means; means responsive to movement of said closuremeans in closing to within a certain distance of closed position forcausing the temporary supply of current to said coil to cause operationof said switch to initiate starting of the car prior to the closing ofsaid circuit controlling means; and means for preventing the continuanceof said temporary supply of current to said coil for more than a certaintime interval after such current is initially supplied. 6. An elevatorsystem comprising; an elevator car serving a plurality of landings;closure means controlling access to the car at a landing; means foroperating said closure means; circuit con-trolling means operable bysaid closure means as it reaches closed position; a source of continuouscurrent supply; an electromagnetic switch operable to cause the startingof the car; a circuit subject to the operation of said circuitcontrolling means for connecting the coil of said electromagnetic switchto said source; a source of non-continuous current supply; secondcircuit controlling means operable by said closure means as it arriveswithin a certain distance of closed position; and a second circuitsubject to the operation of said second circuit controlling means forconnecting the coil of said switch to said source of non-continuouscurrent supply to initiate the starting of the car prior to the closingof said closure means.

7. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a plurality oflandings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; circuit controlling means closedby said closure means upon said closure means reaching closed position;means subject to the closing of said circuit controlling means forcausing the starting of the car; and means responsive to said closuremeans in closing reach ing a certain distance from closed position forcausing the transitory operation of said starting means to initiate thestarting of the car prior to the closing of said circuit controllingmeans, said circuit controlling means in closing prior to the end ofsaid transitory operation acting to maintain said starting meansoperated.

8. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a plurality oflandings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; circuit controlling meansoperable by said closure means as it reaches closed position; anelectromagnetic switch operable to cause the starting of the car, therunning circuit for the coil of said switch being subject to saidcircuit controlling means; a condenser; and means responsive to movementof said closure means in closing to within a certain distance of closedposition for causing the discharge of said condenser into said coil andthus causing the operation of said switch prior to the closing of saidcircuit controlling means to initiate the starting of the car during thefinal closing movement of said closure means.

9. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a plurality oflandings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; circuit controlling means closedby said closure means upon said closure means reaching closed position;an electromagnetic switch operable to cause the starting of the car, therunning circuit for the coil of said switch being subject to saidcircuitcontrolling means; a condenser; means responsive to said closuremeans in closing reaching acertain distance from closed position forcausing the discharge of said condenser into said coil and thus causingthe operation of said switch, prior to the closing of said circuitcontrolling means, to initiate the starting of the car during the finalclosing movement of said closure means; and means responsive to acertain amount of movement of the car for discontinuing the discharge ofsaid condenser into said coil to cause dropout of said switch in theevent that said circuit controlling means is not then closed.

10. An elevator system comprising; an elevatorcar serving a plurality oflandings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; circuit controlling means closedby said closure means upon said closure means reaching closed position;an electromagnetic switch operable to cause the starting of the car, therunning circuit for the coil of said switch being subject to saidcircuit controlling means; a condenser; means responsive to said closuremeans in closing reaching a certain distance from closed position forcausing the discharge of said condenser into said coil and thus causingthe operation of said switch to initiate the starting of the car duringthe final closing movement of said closure means prior to the closing ofsaid circuit controlling means; and means responsive to the operation ofsaid switch for insuring the discharge of said condenser to prevent morethan a limited amount of movement of the car before the closing of saidcircuit controlling means.

11. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a pluralityof landings; means for causing the car to be brought to a stop within acertain Zone with respect to each landing; closure means controllingaccess to the car at each landing; means for operating said closuremeans; circuit controlling means closed by said closure means upon saidclosure means reaching closed position; an electromagnetic switchoperable to cause the starting of thecar, the running circuit for thecoil of said switch being subject to said circuit controlling means; acondenser; means responsive to said closure means in closing reaching acertain distance from closed position for causing the discharge of saidcondenser into said coil and thus causing the operation of said switch,prior to the closing of said circuit controlling means, to initiate thestarting of the car during the final closing movement of said closuremeans; means responsive to movement of the car out of said zone fordisconnecting said condenser from said coil to cause dropout of saidswitch in the event that said circuit controlling means is not thenclosed; and means responsive to the operation of said switch forbleeding said condenesr to insure the discharge thereof sufficiently todrop out said switch in the event of failure of said disconnectingmeans.

12. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a pluralityof landings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; means adapted upon operation tocause operation of said closure operating means to open said closuremeans; means responsive to the arrival of the car at a certain distancefrom the landing for causing the transitory operation of said firstnamed means to initiate the opening of said closure means; and closurecontrol means operable as the car arrives at a less distance from saidlanding and adapted upon operation prior to the end of said transitoryoperation to maintain said first named means operated to continue theclosure means opening operation.

13. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a pluralityof landings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; means adapted upon operation tocause operation of said closure operating means to open said closuremeans; means responsive to the arrival of the car at a certain distancefrom the landing for causing the 11 transitory-operation of said firstnamed.- means to initiate theopening of said closure means and to causethe open ing of said closure means to be at a slow speed; and closurecontrol means operable as the car arrives at a less distance from saidlanding and adapted upon operation prior to the end of said transitoryoperation to maintain said first named means operated to continue theclosure means openingoperation and upon operation after the end of saidtransitory operation to cause reoperation of said first named means tocause opening of said closure means, and acting to cause said openingoperation to take place at a faster speed.

14. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a pluralityof landings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; means including anelectromagnetic switch adapted upon operation to cause operation of saidclosure operating means to open said closure means; means responsive tothe arrival of the car at a certain distance from the landing forcausing the transitory supply of current to the coil of said switch tocause transitory operation of said switch to initiate the opening ofsaid closure means; and closure control means operable as the cararrives at a less distance from said landing and adapted upon operationprior to the end of said transitory operation to maintain the supply or"current to said coil and thus said switch operated to effect thecompletion of the closure means opening operation.

15. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a pluralityof landings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; means including anelectromagnetic switch adapted upon operation to cause operation of saidclosure operating means to open said closure means; closure controlmeans responsive to the arrival of the car at a certain distance fromthe landing for causing current to be supplied to the coil of saidswitch to cause operation of said switch to cause the opening of saidclosure means; and means operable as the car arrives at a greaterdistance from said landing for causing transitory supply of current tosaid coil and thus the transitory operation of said switch to effect theinitiation of the closure means opening operation prior to the operationof said closure control means, said closure control means acting if itsoperation occurs prior to the end of said transitory operation tomaintain the operation of said switch.

16. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a pluralityof landings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; means including anelectromagnetic switch adapted upon operation to cause operation of saidclosure operating means to open said closure means; means responsive tothe arrival of the car at a certain distance from the landing forcausing the transitory supply of current to the coil of said switch tocause the transitory operation of said switch to initiate the opening ofsaid closure means; means for causing said initial opening of saidclosure means to occur at a slow speed; closure control means operableas the car arrives at a less distance from said landing for causingcurrent to be supplied to said coil, thus maintaining said switchoperated if the car arrives at said less distance before the end of thetransitory operation of said switch and causing reoperation of saidswitch if said car arrives at said less distance after the end of thetransitory operation of said switch to cause the closure means to bemoved to full open position; and means for closing the closure meansopening operation under the control of said closure control means totake place at a faster speed.

17. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a pluralityof landings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closuremeans; means including anelectromagnetic switch adapted upon operation to cause operation of saidclosure operating means to open said closure means;

discharge of said condenser into the coil of said switch to cause thetransitory operation of said switch to ini-- tiate the opening of saidclosure means; and closure means operable as the car arrives at a lessdistance from said landing for causing current to be supplied to saidcoil, thus maintaining said switch operated if the car arrives at saidless distance before the end of the transitory operation of said switchand causing reoperation of said switch if said car arrives at said lessdistance after the end of the transitory operation of said switch,thereby causing the closure means to be moved to full open position.

18. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car. serving a pluralityof landings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; means including anelectromagnetic switch adapted upon operation to cause operation of saidclosure operating means to open said closure means; a condenser; meansresponsive to the arrival of the car at a certain distance from thelanding for causing the discharge of said condenser into the coil ofsaid switch to cause the transitory operation of said switch to initiatethe opening of said closure means; closure control means operable as thecar arrives at a less distance from said landing for causing current tobe supplied to said coil, thus maintaining said switch operated if thecar arrives at said less distance before the end of the transitoryoperation of said switch and causing reoperation of said switch it saidcar arrives at said less distance after the end of the transitoryoperation of said switch thereby causing the closure means to be movedto full open position; and means responsive to the arrival of the car ata still less distance from said landing for disconnecting said condenserfrom across said coil of said switch.

19. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a pluralityof landings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; closure opening control meansadapted upon operation to cause operation of said closure operatingmeans to open said closure means; leveling mechanism operable within acertain zone with respect to each landing at which a stop is being madeto cause the car in stopping to be brought to the landing level; meansresponsive to the arrival of the car at a certain distance from thelanding ahead of said zone for causing the transitory operation of saidclosure opening control means to initiate the opening of said closuremeans prior to the arrival of said car in said zone; and closure controlmeans operable in said zone and adapted upon operation prior to the endof said transitory operation to maintain said closure opening controlmeans operated to continue the closure means opening operation to opensaid closure means as the car is being brought to the landing by'saidleveling mechanism.

20. An elevator system comprising; an elevator car serving a pluralityof landings; closure means controlling access to the car at a landing;means for operating said closure means; means including anelectromagnetic switch adapted upon operation to cause operation of saidclosure operating means to open said closure means; leveling mechanismoperable within a certain zone with respect to each landing at which astop is being made to cause the car in stopping to be brought to thelanding level; a condenser; means responsive to the arrival of the carat a certain distance from the landing ahead of said zone for connectingsaid condenser across the coil of said switch to cause operation thereofby the discharge of said condenser and thus operation of said closureopening control means to initiate the opening of said closure meansprior to the arrival of said car in said zone; closure control meansoperable in said zqnea iar rtain d stance from the landing and adapted13 14 upon operation prior to the end of said transitory opera landingto disconnect said condenser from across the coil tion to cause currentto be supplied to said coil to mainof said switch. tain said switch andthus said closure opening control means operated to continue the closuremeans opening References Clted 111 the file of 11115 Patent operation toopen said closure means as the car is being 5 UNITED STATES PATENTSbrought to the landing by said leveling mechanism; and means operable insaid zone at a less distance from the 1477156 Thurston D 1923

